Family drama abound in this blog series that reads like a family vacation cramped into a mini van.

As I write this review, April 8th, 2014 marks exactly two years since the first chapter of I am My Own Cousin was released online, in a new kind of self-published format: a blog. A free blog. Yes, I am My Own Cousin is published and put online absolutely for free, accessible to anyone with an internet connection and an interest. Currently hosting five chapters, it’s reminiscent of pre-19th century Russian novels that were published in newspapers by the chapter, that is, if pre-19th century Russian novels were raunchy, carefree exploits complete with illicit Dunkin Donuts mascots and tequila fueled comas.

From the first few lines of Chapter One, “over forty medical professionals watched our birth, as if it were the opening ceremony of the OB-GYN Olympics,” it’s clear that the story is, just like it’s formatting, fun. It’s a frolicking romp through the life of an open-minded triplet, not quite chronologically accurate, not quite with a set plot, like a highway that diverges into twenty backroads, some with grimy potholes, and others shockingly well paved, that all seem to merge back together occasionally, only to veer off again, leaving the reader a little confused, a little frustrated, but always ready to keep plowing on through the pages posts.

The honesty of I Am My Own Cousin is what holds the reader so strongly. The cast of characters is painfully endearing- a hardworking, young couple with three identical triplets (and later three more); girls who dress alike and have a bond so strong they don’t understand why sharing answers on tests, just like they share their dresses, is wrong. It’s this connection and interest in the girls and their stories that holds the reader when the going gets tough.

Painful hurt and betrayal go beyond the happy family dynamic that shines through the first few posts. Issues ranging from abuse, pregnancy, and devotion to a Church that later turns the girls away, create a powerful narrative. They challenge a powerful bond which, at sometimes, seems like it might shatter at any time. Instead of brushing off the hardest issues, the author, along with several guest posters, turn each trial of pain and family woes into a dialogue. Included along with family photos, pictures of the author’s first trailer, and a smattering of other images, are facts about teen pregnancy, abusive relationships, and other resources that are thoughtfully laid into the beautiful writing. While the girls might not have learned from their mistakes (and truly, the story sees these mistakes as pieces of a journey) they are accompanied by reflections, excerpts and inserts that create an even more powerful dialogue.

Yet the stories do not seek to strike some moral high ground. They are just as much about human error as they are about approaching life with humility and a sense of searching for beauty in every situation. Each character brings to the table ideas about relationships with friends, family, and even God, with honesty and tact. They are insightful stories without preaching, and beautiful without feeling like they are trying to eek out some moral or ideology. While some works become flawed in trying to find a meaning for each action, I Am My Own Cousin reflects on a life without drawing rights or wrongs. It leaves a gray area that the reader can eek out and relate to.

Certainly, anyone, from any walk of life, can reach out and be touched by a chapter of this blog. Family is an aspect of life we barely understand- a collective of individuals sometimes related by blood and not much else- yet one that has an incredible significance from birth to death.

Read with an open mind and an open heart. Perhaps the contents will shock you, upset you, make you joyful, but they will certainly make you feel connected to this family and their story. It’s one worth sharing. And one worth following up on- the end of Chapter 37 details where each character currently is.

I am My Own Cousin is a tribute to the variety of forms that self-publishing can take. It’s a story that does incredibly well in a format used for everything from mom’s blogs to politico pieces, due to the incredible amount of personality packed into every post. The personal pictures, ranging from selfies in the woods to personalized oil paintings, complement the down-home jargon and the shameless tell-all of each post, that create something more than could be stuffed into a traditionally printed book. The fluidity of the story, and the format of the blog that allow the reader to jump around, to click back and forth between Chapter 34: The Young and the Feckless, and Bonus Chapter 4: The GREAT Lesbian Adventure, add a new dimension to the reading experience.

Indeed, a non-linear story should be explored at the reader’s whim- for no matter which post one begins at- it will all be good fun.

The first time we saw the Amazon blurb for Nyx I was immediately intrigued.

“Nyx, a sarcastic, mouthy fairy, is hurled into Hell, but instead of damned souls and devils, she finds only a group of confused, young human witches.”

Talk about a strong opener. Blending fantasy, witchcraft, and teenage hormones is a wild ride, and one we knew we wanted to hear more from the author about. He was kind enough to talk about his experiences writing this quirky novel, and his experiences on the self-publishing grind.

Growing up in the sparse beauty of the Mojave desert, his first school was actually called Tumbleweed Elementary. Since then, he has lived in San Francisco, Brooklyn, and Hollywood, before settling down in the lush beauty of Oregon with his wife and son. Being from the desert, the rain doesn’t bother him. In fact, he thinks it’s still kind of exotic, as are all the green things growing right out of the ground.

What is your favorite book?

I could make a list of perhaps my favorite 200 books, and they’re favorites for all sorts of different reasons. Great stories, fascinating characters, exotic settings, guilty pleasures, and difficult but fulfilling works. One of the most inspirational books I’ve read is Imaginary Cities by Italo Calvino. It blew my mind when I first read it. It’s a conversation between Marco Polo and Kubla Khan where Marco describes wildly fantastic and impossible cities to the fabulously wealthy ruler. I’ve always put it on a pedestal as an example of a writer with a great imagination.

Do you have a day job? What is it?

I’m a web developer, and have been for almost 20 years.

When you began the process of writing your book, had you ever heard of self-publishing?

I became interested in self-publishing when I couldn’t get an agent to give me anything more detailed than a form rejection letter. While I was writing, I knew self-publishing was an option, but I tried to focus on the story instead of worrying about publishing.

What are the benefits of self-publishing?

The main benefit is that the book actually got published, with a cover I love, and I didn’t have to wait for someone else’s approval to get that done.

I wouldn’t say that self-publishing gives you a more flexible schedule, since it requires a lot more time than traditional publishing, since you have to lay out the book, get the cover right, and create a properly formatted e-book. That part of the process took me months, and that doesn’t include any of the marketing you have to do yourself, too. Marketing is hard, too. It’s hard to find access to an audience and get people interested in reading Nyx.

What is the greatest struggle you find as a self-published author?

The writing itself takes the most time, of course, but it’s also the most fun. For me, marketing is the hardest part. The goal of my marketing is to figure out who would be interested in Nyx and then letting them know it exists. I’ve used Facebook, Amazon KDP promotions, Reddit, and giving a copy to anyone in my life who seemed interested. Sales are slow, but at least I’m still selling a book every so often, and people keep putting it on their to-read shelf on goodreads, so I’m optimistic.

Did you work with a paid editor?

My editor is my wife, so while I didn’t pay her, other people (like Disney) have. The best way to handle criticism is to just take your ego out of it. It isn’t fun, but it’s absolutely vital. When it comes to listenting to an editor, pride is poison.

What about the book cover?

I tried to design it myself, but it just ended up looking cheap and clearly self-published. I ended up hiring a small design company to do the cover. It was spendy, but I’m thrilled with the result, and I expect I’ll use them again.

Did you purchase your own ISBN, or work with a company to purchase rights and an ISBN?

I bought a pack of 10 ISBNs in an abundance of caution of wanting to own my own work, but I’m not sure that was really necessary.

Do you have more e-Book or hard copy sales?

Definitely more e-book sales, maybe four to five times as much.

How do you market and brand your stories?

I only have one book out there, Nyx. I’m an unknown author hawking a self-published fantasy novel, so people are understandably leery of picking it up. Self-published novels have a terrible reputation, and that’s not totally undeserved. Since my major obstacles were obscurity and reluctance (due to being self-published), I decided to give away as many copies of my books as I could, in order to build as much word-of-mouth as possible. I might have lost about 50 or so sales with that tactic, but my goal isn’t to sell 50 books, it’s to sell 50,000. Many of my Facebook friends got a free copy, as did all of my real-world friends who wanted one. One of my friend’s teenage daughter liked Nyx so much she’s dressing up as the character for Halloween, which I’m pretty honored by. To overcome the reluctance to pick up the book, I got the best cover I possibly could, since when I’m looking for new books to read, I absolutely judge books by their cover.

I’ve also contacted about 125 book bloggers and sent a nice email, asking if they’d like to review it. Only about ten said they’d review it, and maybe four have actually reviewed the book. I haven’t noticed any bump in sales from those reviews, so I’m not yet convinced that book review blogs are worth the effort.

Did you publish through Amazon?

I did publish through Amazon, since that’s the largest marketplace for books. I used Createspace (which Amazon owns) to make Nyx a print-on-demand book, and they make the process pretty easy.

How did you decide to price your book?

I priced the paperback so that I’d make about a dollar for every sale, and that came to $12.99. I set the e-book at $2.99, which seemed like a good deal for a 480-page book.

What kind of support would be most helpful to self-published authors?

Marketing support would be the greatest help. Help getting reviewed would also be nice. Unfortunately, marketing for fiction is a lot harder than for non-fiction. With non-fiction, you can have a blog that regularly expounds on the subject matter, extends the message that’s in the book, hold workshops and such. With fiction, who cares about a blog? I’ve never looked at an author’s blog – I don’t care. I just want to read their books. The most consistent advice I’ve heard about marketing self-published fiction is, “Write another book.” I’m working on the sequel to Nyx, so I’ll let you know how that works out.